Northern Minnesota elementary school shuts down for 2 weeks due to COVID-19 outbreak

An elementary school in northern Minnesota is moving to distance learning for two weeks after reporting "substantial classroom transmission" of COVID-19.

In a phone message sent out to parents, Vaughan Steffensrud Elementary School, a K-3 school in Chisholm, said St. Louis County public health officials recommended a 14-day stop to in-person classes to wait out the virus’s incubation period.

The school said distance learning will start on Thursday and last through Oct. 4. Parents were also advised to self-isolate and avoid group gatherings to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19.

The school district didn’t say how many students were affected by the outbreak.

The Chisholm School District strongly recommends — but doesn’t require — masks to be worn in class, but masks are required on all school buses.